Thermal douche



H. M. KANNER THERMAL DOUCHE Aug. 6, 1935.

Filed July 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Kanner QB Q 0.5

ATTORNEY 1935. H. M. KANNER 2,010,457

THERMAL DOUCHE Filed July 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO RN EY H M Kanner Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment ofginflammatory pelvic diseases and is directed particularly to an apparatus for the application of heat in the treatment of pelvic diseases and disorders in the female.

The principal object of my invention is to pro vide a, thermal douche or irrigator constructed in order to provide for expansion thereof after insertion into the pelvic area in order to open out or expand all of the affectedtissues for the purpose of thoroughly exposing them to the beneficial heat, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

A further object of my invention is to provide a thermal douche or irrigator capable oi main taining a sustained heat over a relatively long period of time and to provide means whereby this heat may, during the entire eriod, be directly applied to all of the affected tissues.

A further object of my invention is to provide a thermal douche which may be used by the doctor at his offices or may be used by the patient at home.

In the past few years the prolonged application of heat has become one of the most important methods known to the medical profession for the treatment of pelvic diseases. Thedevices however nave been very complicated in structure and as a result very expensive to purchase. This restricted their use to those few doctors who could afford to purchase them. The purchase by and use of such device by the patient at home was therefore out of the question.

My thermal douche is a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a. perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings, similar, characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 illustrates, in outline, the thermal douche as connected for use in a physicians office.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal View partly in section snowing the linkage units contracted.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the device showing the linkage units and fingers expanded.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of my improved thermal douche showing the same equipped with a watertight expansible bag.

Referring now more particularly to the charactors of reference on the drawings, the numeral I denotes a cylindrical metal tube provided with an inlet tip 2 for connection to a rubber supply hose L. Slidable within the tube I and extending forward thereof is another cylindrical tube 3 having an outlet nozzle 4 on the forward end thereof.

Linkage units comprising pairs of relatively thin arms. 5 and 5, pivoted together at their adjacent ends, are circumferentially spaced around the tube 3. The arms 5 are pivoted for radial movement to a ring element I secured on the forward end of the tube I. The arms 8 are pivoted forradial movement to a ring element 8 secured on theforward end of the tube 3.

Relatively long flat fingers 9 extending beyond the forward ends of the linkage units are secured only to the outer edge of the arms 5 for -the purpose hereinafter set forth; At the forward ends of the fingers 9, said fingers are curved and tapered as shown thereby converging over the outlet nozzle G and forming a tapered end on the instrument.

Rigidly and non-rotatably mounted'on the tube is a forwardly facing metal cup in, said cup being provided with a tubular outlet tip it in one side thereof for connection to a rubber drain hose D. i

A knurled ring i2 slidable on the tube 5 rearwardly of the cup 5% fixed to the tube 3 by means of a set screw i3 which projects from the ring 52 to the tube 3 through a longitudinal slot i out in the tube l. Circumferentially engaging the lip of the cup Hi is a substantially bell shaped cap or shield i5 held in position by means of a bead E6. This cap or shield i5 is preferably formed of relatively soft rubber. The interior diameter of the opening ii in the forward end of said cap or shieldis somewhat greater than the diameter of the tube I which projects through said opening ii. I

To encase the instrument forwardly oi said cap or shield I5, I may provide an elongated watertight bag is formed of expansible material such as rubber or the like. The adjacent ends of the cap or shield i5 and the watertight expansible bag 93 are sealed together in a watertight connection by an elastic bead i9 formed on the open end of the bag IS, said bead i9 engaging the outer face of the forward end of the cap or shield i5, as shown in Figure 4.

For use the thermal douche is connected with the hot and cold water supply faucets, as shown in Figure 1. Rubber supply hoses H and 0' lead from the faucets to a connection Y from which a single hose S leads into a clear glass flask F in which is secured a thermometer T. Another section of hose L leads directly from the flask F to the inlet tip 2 of the douche. The drain hose D from the outlet tip H of the instrument discharges into the basin B with which the faucets are associated.

When a treatment is to be given, the patient is requested. to assume a lithotomic position, and the thermal douche is inserted into the vagina. The instrument is, when inserted, in a folded condition as shown, in Figures 1 and 2. After the douche is inserted in the vagina, the cap or shield iii is held firmly against the vulva and the knurled ring l2 drawn away from the cup portion iii along the tube i. This causes the inner tube 3 to slide rearwardly within the tube 5 and results in the arm units 5 and 5 moving radially out, forming a substantially umbrella like frame with the fingers 9. This expansion of the arms and fingers causes the walls of the area surrounding the fingers to be expanded or ballooned out, so as to expose the entire affected area to the water and heat.

With the douche thus expanded, the cold water is then turned on gently until a very small stream comes from the outlet hose D into the basin B. The hot water is then turned on slowly, gradually increasing the temperature until it is as hot as the patient can stand. The rise in temperature is noted on the thermometer T in the flask T6 and is the guide for adjusting the flow so that the temperature can be kept at a fixed point. The patient soon learns to tolerate a temperature of from 118 to 129 degrees Fahrenheit over a period of twenty-five to thirty minutes. By this method heat is applied directly to the cervix and vagina with constant irrigation and provides contact of the water with the infected tissues. The heated water merely fiows into the expanded area from the nozzle t and drains out of the instrument through the outlet tip H and discharge hose D.

After the treatment is completed, the water supply is stopped and the instrument collapsed by sliding the ring it forward. The instrument may then be readily removed from the vagina.

The thermal douche, constructed as above described, not only provides a very modern and successful method for the treatment of gonorrhea and other diseases by the direct application of heat, but also provides a method of treatment which may be administered at home by the patient herself as well as by the doctor at his oflice.

If the instrument is used without the expansible bag, a true douche eifect is provided, the water flushing the parts and draining through the opening l! and into the tube D.

If on the other hand the bag (which of course expands with the fingers) is used, heat only but no flushing action is had, the water in the instrument circulating therethrough and being maintained confined.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device,

still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A thermal douche including a tube adapted at its outer end for connection to a source of hot water and open at its inner end, expansible fingers spaced circumferentially about and extending lengthwise of the tube over the open end thereof and mounted in unitary connection with said tube, means to expand the fingers at will, an expansible water-tight bag enclosing the fingers and the inner end portion of the tube to receive the water issuing from the same, and means mounting the outer end of the bag on the tube to provide controlled drainage from the bag.

2. A thermal douche including a tube adapted at its outer end for connection to a source of hot water and open at its inner end, another open ended tube slidable within the first tube and projecting from the inner end thereof, link units spaced circumferentially about and extending lengthwise of the tubes, said units each comprising a pair or" arms pivoted together at adjacent ends, means pivoting the units at one end on one tube, means pivoting the units at the other end on the other tube whereby relative sliding movement of the tubes will expand or contract the link units, the first tube having a longitudinal slot outwardly of said one end of the units and exposing the adjacent portion of the other tube, means projecting through the slot and connected to said other tube for sliding the same lengthwise, and fingers extending lengthwise of the units secured only to the arms thereof nearest the slot.

3. A thermal douche including a tube adapted at its outer end for connection to a source of hot water and open at its inner end, another open ended tube slidable within the first tube and projecting from the inner end thereof, dilating elements spaced circumferentially about and extending lengthwise of the tubes, means pivoting the elements at one end on the outer tube, links pivoted at one end on the other tube and at the other end on the elements whereby relative sliding movement of the tubes will expand or contract the elements, the first tube having a longitudinal slot outwardly of said one end of the elements and exposing the adjacent portion of the other tubes, and means projecting through the slot and connected to said other tube for sliding the same lengthwise.

i. A structure as in claim 1 in which said last named means comprises a hollow bell shaped shield secured at its outer end about said tube, but spaced at its inner end from said tube; the outer end of the bag being secured about the inner end of said shield with a water-tight fit, and an outlet nipple secured to the outer face of the shield.

HARRY M. KANNER. 

